Automobile fngine-cooling apparatus



Nov. 30 1926.

- 1,608,600 P. L. HOWE AUTOMOBILE ENGINE COOLING APPARATUS Filed April 3, 1926 INVENTOR.

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#13 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PHILIP. L. HOWE, OF WILSON, TEXAS.

AUTOIOBILE ENGINE-COOLING APP ABATUB.

Application filed April ,8,

My invention relates to improvements .in automobile engine cooling apparatus. It relates particularly to apparatus of the type employing a radiator in front of a. fan, the radiator containing liquid, such as water, or water mixed with alcohol or glycerine or other non-freezing material.

One of the objects of my invention 1s to provide a cooling apparatus of the kind described, which will conserve the liquid used for cooling, which is simple, cheap, durable, not liable to get out of order, and WlllCll can be readily applied to cars now in use.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a side view partly in vert cal section and partly in elevation of my 1mprovement shown applied to an automobile radiator of usual water cooling type, the fan, and portions of the hood and cowl being shown.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the tank for receiving the liquld condensed from the vapors, and portions of the pipes connected thereto. I

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates a radiator of usual construction havm the usual inlet and outlet pipes 2 and 3 w ich connect it with the engine, not shown. The radiator 1 is adapted to contain liquid 4, which may be water or water mixed with alcohol or other non-freeze material. In the radiator 1 is a vent pipe, 5, which usually communicateswith the atmosphere, but which in my improved construction, is connected by a coupling 6 with a pipe 7 which extends into the upper portion of another radiator 8, which is disposed infront of the radiator 1 in the path of the current of air produced by the usual fan 9' located at the rear ofthe radiator 1. fl

The'bottom of the radiator 8, which is a condensing radiator, has connected to it a pipe 9, the other end of which is connected with a liquid receiving receptacle comprising a tank 10, which nearits upper side has a liquid inlet opening in which the pipe 9 is fitted. The receptacle 10 hastin its upper side an opening in which is fitted a pipe 11 i which communicates with the atmosphere and serves as an, air vent. The bottom of 1926. Serial No. 99,488.

the tank or receptacle 10 has a li uid outlet opening in which is fitted one en of a conductor 12, the other end of which is connected to the radiator 1 at a point lower than the bottom of the tank 10. Inthe conductor 12 is a check valve 13 which opens toward the radiator 1, thereb permitting liquid to flow from the receptac e 10 through the conductor 12 into the radiator 1, when the pressurein the radiator falls below the pressure of the column of water in the conductor 12. When the pressure in the radiator 1 is greater than the pressure in the conductor 12, the check valve 13, prevents flow from the radiator 1 through the conductor 12.

The liquid receptacle 10 may have a drain cock 14, ig. 2, throu h which the liquid in the receptacle may e withdrawn, should the conductor 12 become clogged.

In the operation of my invention, when vapor forms in the radiator 1, it will, instead of going to the atmosphere, as usually occurs, pass through the vent pipe 5, couplin 6 and pipe 7 into the radiator 8, in whic it will be condensed, the resulting liquid mixing with a quantity of liquid 15, which is initially placed in the radiator 8 to. form a liquid seal over the pipe 9, to prevent vapor passing-fromthe radiator 8 into the receptacle 10. The quantity of water, or water mixed with an anti-freeze, such as alcohol,

mav be about two or three quarts.

The receptacle 10 may be placed in any convenient place on the car, as under the cowl 16, as shown.

Ifthe engine gets hotenough to form a considerable pressure in the radiator 1, this pressure will be communicated to radiator 8, and will force some of the. liquid 15 through the .pipe 9 into the receptacle 10, which willv catch and hold the liquid so caught until the pressure in radiator 1 lowers sufliciently, upon which the liquid will ow by gravity through the conductor 12,

past the check valve 13 into the radiator 1.

Thus, with the use of my improvement, the loss of alcohol or of water from the radiators and cooling system of the machine, due to evaporation to the atmosphere, will be very small. epters the radiator 8 from the radiator 1 is distilled, there will be no dirt or scale carried into the radiator 8, so that the radiator 1 is kept supplied with distilled liquid from As the liquid which therefrom into sai "and by which-steam or vapor is hel tacle into saidradiator.

the receptacle 10, and there will be little need of ever cleaning or flushing the improved part of the apparatus.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is- "1. In an automobile engine coolin apparatus, the combination with a liqui containing radiator having a vapor vent, of a receptacle for liquid, and vapor condensing means-connecting said vent and said receptacle and having ,means by which vapor or steam in said condensing means is lied from passing into said receptacle but which permits liquid to so pass.

2. In an automobile engine cooling apparatus, the combination with a liquid containing radiator havin a vapor vent, of a receptacle for h aid, and condensin means connecting said receptacle with sai vent by which vapor from said vent is li'quefied and the liquid forced by pressure in said radiator into said receptacle and by which steam or vapor is held from passing from said condensing means into said re-- ceptacle.

3. In an automobile engine cooling apparatus, the combination with a liquid containing radiator having a vapor vent, of a receptacle for liquid, condensing means connecting said vent and said receptacle by which vapor from said vent is li uefied and the liqui forced by pressure in said radiator into said receptacle, and by which steam or vapor is held from passing from said condensing means into said receptacle and means connectin said receptacle and said radiator by whic when the pressure in the radiator falls below liquid in said receftacle will be discharged radiator.

In anautomobile ine cool' paratus, the combination with a liqui containing radiator having a vapor vent, of a receptacle for liquid, condensing means connecting said vent and said receptacle by which va or from said vent is liquefied and. the liqui discharged into said receptacle,

from passing from' said condensing means into said receptacle and a liquid conductor con necting said rece tacle and said radiator,

said receptacle an said conductor being disposed. so that liquid will pass by gravity through said conductor from said recepngine cqolin ap with a liquid can- 55.111 an automobile paratus, the combination raining radiator having a vapor vent, of'a receptacle for liquidiconden means conmeeting said vent and said receptacle b whichv vapor from said vent is liqu ed a predetermined amount,

. including and the liquid discharged into said receptacle and by which steam or vapor is held from passing from said condensing means into said receptacle, and a 1i uid conductor connectin said-receptacle an said radiator ns toand inclu ing a check valve which ope ward said radiator, said receptacle and said conductor being dis sad so that liquid will 'taining radiator having a vapor vent, of a receptacle for liquid having a li u'id outlet.

and having avent to the atmosp ere and a liquid inlet higher than said liquid outlet,

a liquid conductor communicating with said liquid outlet and with said radiator and in cluding a check valve which opens toward said radiator, vapor condensing means into which said vapor vent discharges, and a lit]- iiid conductor communicatin with said condensing means and with sai liquid inlet.

7. In an automobile engine cooling apparatus, the combination with a liquid containing radiator, having a vapor vent,'and the radiator cooling fan of an automobile, of a condensing radiatorinto which said vent discharges disposed in the path of the cur rent of air produced by said fan and having an outlet for liquid, a receptacle for liquid having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet lower than said liquid inlet, a liquid conductor communicating with the liquid outlet of said condensing radiator and with said liquid inlet of said receptacle, and a conductor communicating with the liquid outlet of said receptacle and discharging into the first named radiator and inclu ing a check valve which openstoward the first named radiator.

8. In an automobile engine cooling apparatus, the. combination with the cooling fan of an automobile and'the liquid containing radiator in front of said fan and having-a vapor vent, of a condensing radiator into which said vent discharges disposed in front of the first named radiator in the path of the current of air produced by phere an'd a liquid inlet, and having a liquid outlet lower thansaid inlet and the last named vent, and a conductor communicating with said liquid outlet of said rece tacle and discharging into the first named ra 'ator and said first named radiator.

a check valve which opensftoward in the first named radiator, and hav ing a vent commumcati'ng with the atmosno 'In testimony whereof I have signed name tothis specification.

PHILIP L. Hows. 

